Sharks hope Couture keeps doing it all in playoffs

SAN JOSE -- Logan Couture has become the Sharks go-to guy at both ends of the ice.

Consider his play in the third period of San Jose's 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars one week ago that secured a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs that begin Wednesday in Vancouver. Couture drilled a 17-foot wrist shot for the game-winning goal, then dropped to the ice with two seconds left to block a Ryan Garbutt slap shot that threatened San Jose's slim lead.

"The way he's been playing lately, he's been driving our bus right now," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of Couture after a four-point effort on April 18. "He's the head guy and he's making it happen and we're happy for him."

Later, McLellan would qualify his statement -- "He's elevated himself into an elite role ... He's penetrated into that leadership group and solidified his place there" -- but with this season Couture has only strengthened his status as the franchise's future.

For years the Sharks have been Patrick Marleau's team or Joe Thornton's team. With both now 33, the transition is in progress as the 24-year-old Couture steps it up.

"Which is great," said Thornton, the team's captain. "It's a good thing that the young guys want to take over and want to lead the team. It's nice for me and Patty to say, 'Hey, it's your turn tonight. Go ahead and see what you've got.' It's a committee. We've said that for lots of years."

Thornton is among those impressed by the breadth of Couture's game.

"He just does it all," the captain said. "If you need a shootout goal, you put him in. Blocked shot or a penalty kill -- anything. He just continues to get better."

The goals are nothing new for Couture, though the team-leading 21 he scored this abbreviated season put him on pace for a career-high 35 over the usual 82 games.

But the defensive side of his game has evolved to the point that the line of Couture, Patrick Marleau and TJ Galiardi has been matched against the opposition's top offensive forwards for the past few weeks, contributing to San Jose's 12-5-1 record down the stretch.

Shot-blocking, risky as it can be at times, has become a Couture specialty. The Sharks blocked 800 shots this season, more than any team except the Toronto Maple Leafs. And Couture's 51 were more than any forward except Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers.

"I've always enjoyed blocking shots, trying to help out," Couture said after that Dallas game in which he had a career-high six. "That's something that was taught to me since I was a young kid. It's always good to pitch in on both sides."

Couture didn't embrace the "driving the bus" analogy, suggesting McLellan must have been referring to the work of his line overall. But he did acknowledge he has taken on an expanded leadership role.

"I mean each year that you play here, you feel more comfortable and more of a leader," he said. "You see guys coming up and they ask me questions like I did when I was coming up, asking Jumbo and guys like that questions."

A more visible sign of Couture's leadership potential could come next season. With the departure of Ryane Clowe, there's a vacancy for a Sharks assistant captain. Couture would have to be considered a front-runner for the role, though McLellan declined to tip his hand.

But look for another indication of the respect Couture has earned around the NHL when the series with the Canucks gets under way. Two years ago, the Canucks tried to match their top defensive center, Ryan Kesler, against Thornton whenever possible.

Initial word from Vancouver indicates that this year Kesler -- who missed 31 games with injuries and did not face the Sharks all season -- will be matched against Couture.